JP4011904B2 - Video camera and control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to video cameras and the control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to view video, audio, etc. taken with a VTR-integrated video camera or video camera, these devices are connected to a television receiver or a monitor display by means of a cord or the like. It was reproduced on the display and the sound was output.
[0003]
On the other hand, various technologies have been developed that enable video signals to be exchanged between a plurality of video devices by transmitting video signals wirelessly. For example, a technique for transmitting and receiving video signals and audio signals using FM-modulated infrared rays has been developed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Connecting a plurality of video devices with a cord as in the past is very troublesome for general users, and if various video devices are owned at home as in recent years, wiring This problem is becoming a big problem.
[0005]
In particular, a camera-integrated VTR or the like is usually operated without being connected to another video device at the time of shooting, and therefore must be connected to another display device only for viewing. In addition, it is highly necessary to perform the operation and viewing at a remote place even during shooting, and the troublesome connection of this cord can be said to be one drawback of this type of camera-integrated VTR.
[0006]
On the other hand, considering the use of wireless technology, conventional wireless devices are generally provided separately from video equipment. For example, an infrared transmission unit will be prepared separately from the video equipment, and eventually this video equipment will need to be connected to the infrared transmission unit and reception unit, which reduces the labor of wiring compared to the conventional equipment. In other words, the application of this type of equipment to consumer equipment was to be hindered.
[0007]
In addition, when an infrared transmission / reception unit is used, there are drawbacks such as a shortage of transmission information, deterioration of information due to viewing and obstruction, limitation of directivity, and a short transmission distance. Furthermore, this type of device consumes a large amount of power for transmission. When a battery mounted on a portable device such as a video camera-integrated VTR is used as a power source, the shooting / recording time increases as the power consumption increases. Will become shorter.
[0008]
For this purpose, it is not preferable to frequently turn on / off the power switch of the transmission / reception unit because the operation at the time of photographing becomes very complicated. In particular, when it is desired to operate the camera-integrated VTR in a remote place, it is practically impossible to turn on / off the transmission / reception unit on the camera-integrated VTR side.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera that is excellent in operability and has no wiring complexity.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Video camera according to the present invention, the recording and reproducing means and the operation state of the recording and reproducing means having a function of recording a video signal output from the image pickup means on a recording medium and a function of reproducing the video signal from said recording medium and operating means for the reproduction state, the recording and a switch for the operating state to the recording state of the reproducing means, be the case when the recording and reproducing means is reproducing the video signal from said recording medium or one, in no event not transmitting video signals wirelessly transmitting means is reproduced from said recording medium in a wireless, when the switch is operated, the operating state of the recording and reproducing means recording state without, characterized in that to start the transmission of the video signal being reproduced from the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit.
The control method according to the present invention has a function of recording a video signal output from the image pickup means on a recording medium, a recording means having a function of reproducing the video signal from said recording medium, said recording and reproducing means A control method of a video camera, comprising: an operation unit for setting an operation state to a playback state; and a switch for setting the operation state of the recording / playback unit to a recording state, wherein the recording / playback unit performs video from the recording medium. a case being reproduced signal, or one, in no event not transmitting video signals wirelessly transmitting means is reproduced from said recording medium in a wireless, when the switch is operated, the recording without the operation state of the reproducing means in a recording state, characterized in that to start transmission of the video signal being reproduced from the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments suitable for the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a video system comprising a video camera integrated VTR 10 and a monitor device 25 in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and signals can be exchanged between the VTR 10 and the monitor device 25 by a spread spectrum system. It is said. Specific configurations of the spread spectrum (SS) transmission / reception circuit 4 in the camera-integrated VTR 10 and the SS transmission / reception circuit 22 in the monitor device 25 are as shown in FIG.
[0013]
In FIG. 2, 7 is an antenna for transmission / reception, 31 is a bus selector for switching various modes such as transmission, reception, transmission / reception, 32 is a spread modulation circuit, 33 is a despread modulation circuit, 34 is a spread code generation circuit, Reference numeral 35 denotes a terminal to which transmission data modulated by the spread modulation circuit 32 is input. Reference numeral 36 denotes a terminal to output reception data demodulated by the despread modulation circuit 33.
[0014]
In the configuration described above, when transmitting transmission data such as a video signal or an audio signal, the transmission data is spread-modulated by the code from the spread code generation circuit 34 in the spread modulation circuit 32 in the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 on the VTR 10 side. To do. The spread modulated data is supplied to the antenna 7 by the bus selector 31 and is supplied to the monitor device 25 via the antenna 7. Such a transmission operation is substantially the same when transmitting operation data to be described later on the monitor device side.
[0015]
Data received by the antenna 27 on the monitor device 25 side is input to the bus selector 31 in the SS transmission / reception circuit 20 on the monitor device 25 side, and is input to the despreading modulation circuit 33 via the bus selector 31. Here, the despreading modulation circuit 33 uses the code from the spread code generation circuit 34 to despread the received signal to obtain received data. Such a receiving operation is substantially the same when receiving operation data on the VTR 10 side.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a lens group for condensing an optical image and forming an image on an image pickup device 2 at a subsequent stage. The image pickup device 2 is constituted by a CCD, for example, and converts the optical image into an electric signal to generate a signal. This is supplied to the processing circuit 3. The signal processing circuit 3 performs processing for converting the signal from the image sensor 2 into a signal form suitable for display, a signal form suitable for communication, and a signal form suitable for magnetic recording and reproduction.
[0017]
Here, the signal to be displayed on the finder 16 and the signal to be output to the external input / output terminal 12 need to be analog signals such as a standard television signal such as an NTSC signal. The signal from element 2 is converted to this type of signal. Since such processing is a well-known technique prior to the filing of the present application, detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present specification.
[0018]
On the other hand, the signal processing circuit 3 digitizes the signal from the image sensor 2 and performs band compression by high-efficiency encoding or the like to reduce the data rate in order to obtain a signal form suitable for spread spectrum communication. Then, it supplies to SS transmission / reception circuit 4. In addition, a well-known thing is applicable also about a digitization circuit and a high efficiency encoding circuit.
[0019]
The signal supplied to the recording / reproducing unit 9 depends on the recording / reproducing method. However, when a known analog VTR recording / reproducing unit is used, a color subcarrier signal is formed and arranged in the low frequency range of the FM modulated luminance signal. Then, a recording signal is formed. Also, when using a recording / reproducing unit of a digital VTR, processing such as adding a parity code for error correction is performed after digitization and high-efficiency encoding.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, 5 is a microprocessing unit (MPU) that controls each circuit in the VTR 10, 6 is an operation unit that instructs various operations of the camera-integrated VTR 10, and 8 is a recording start of the camera-integrated VTR 10, in particular. A so-called trigger switch for instructing a temporary stop, 12 is an input / output terminal for transmitting / receiving a signal to / from an external device via a cable (not shown), and 13 is a microphone. The sound signal circulated by the microphone 13 is input to the signal processing circuit 3 and, similarly to the video signal output from the image sensor 2, is a signal form suitable for SS communication or a signal suitable for magnetic recording / reproduction. Perform processing to form.
[0021]
In the above-described configuration, the video signal is supplied from the image pickup device 2 to the signal processing circuit 3 when the video camera is integrated with the VTR 10, while the audio signal collected by the microphone 13 is also supplied to the signal processing circuit 3. . In the signal processing circuit 3, after performing the above-described processing on each of the video signal and the audio signal, the signal is supplied to the finder 16, the input / output terminal 12, the recording / reproducing unit 9, the SS transmitting / receiving unit 4, and the like. At this time, the operation of the camera unit (not shown), for example, switching of the zoom ratio and setting of the mode is determined by the MPU 5 according to the operation of the operation key 6 and the trigger switch 8. The operation of the recording / reproducing unit 9 is also determined by the MPU 5 according to the operation of the operation key 6 and the trigger switch 8.
[0022]
In the monitor device 25, 21 is an MPU that controls the entire monitor device 25, and 20 is an SS transmission / reception circuit. The signal processing circuit 22 decodes the digital video signal received by the SS transmission / reception circuit 20, converts it into a signal form that can be displayed on a normal display such as an NTSC signal, and supplies it to the display 23.
[0023]
The operation key 24 is an operation key that can control the operation of the monitor device 25 and can instruct the operation of the camera-integrated VTR 10. Instruction information from the operation key 24 is supplied to the MPU 21 and the SS transmission / reception circuit 20. Is also transmitted to the camera-integrated VTR 10 via the transmission / reception circuit 20. On the VTR 10 side, the operation information from the operation key 24 is received by the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 and supplied to the MPU 5 so that the operation of the camera-integrated VTR 10 can be controlled.
[0024]
Next, more specific operations will be described in time series using the timing chart of FIG. In FIG. 3, a indicates the operation state of the trigger switch 8. In the figure, a period indicated by a high level indicates a period during which the trigger switch is pressed, and a period indicated by a low level indicates a period during which the push button is not pressed. Show. The VTR in FIG. 1 has two types of modes, which can be switched by operating the operation keys 6. Mode 1 is a normal mode in which the operation is controlled in the main body of the VTR 10, and mode 2 is an operation. Is a remote mode in which the control is mainly performed on the monitor device 25 side. b indicates the operating state of the recording / reproducing unit 9, c indicates the operating state of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 in mode 1, and d indicates the operating state of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 in mode 2.
[0025]
First, the operation in mode 1 will be described. Now, it is assumed that the VTR 10 is in a recording pause state at timing t0. As is well known, the recording pause state is a state in which the image pickup device 2 is in an operating state and the recording / reproducing unit 9 can immediately perform recording although recording is not performed. Assuming that the trigger switch 8 is operated at the timing t1, the recording / reproducing unit 9 starts recording video and audio signals at the timing t1 and enters the recording mode. In synchronization with this, the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in the standby state. To the transmission state. At this time, the video and audio signals being captured are transmitted to the monitor device 25 via the antenna 7. Here, the standby state is a state in which transmission and reception are not performed and the circuit power consumption of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is minimized. The video and audio signals received by the SS transmission / reception circuit 20 on the monitor device 25 side are output from the display 23 and a speaker (not shown).
[0026]
Next, when the trigger switch 8 is pressed again at the timing t2, the recording / reproducing unit 9 temporarily stops signal recording, and the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 returns from the transmission state to the standby state. Thereafter, if the stop key in the operation key 6 is operated at the timing t3, the VTR 10 is stopped. Here, the stopped state refers to a state in which recording / reproducing is not performed in the recording / reproducing unit 9 and the imaging operation in the imaging element 2 is also stopped. In this stop state, regardless of the operation of the trigger switch 8, the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in a standby state.
[0027]
Subsequently, at time t4, if the playback key in the operation key 6 is operated, the VTR 10 enters the playback mode, and the video signal and audio signal recorded on the magnetic tape as the recording medium are played back and the signal processing circuit 3 To be supplied. Needless to say, the image sensor 2 does not operate in this reproduction mode. Here, the signal processing circuit 3 converts the reproduced signal into a displayable signal such as an NTSC signal and supplies it to the finder 16 and inputs this signal to the SS transmission / reception circuit 4. If the trigger switch 8 is operated at timing t5 when the VTR 10 is in the playback mode, the VTR itself does not change its operation, but the mode of the SS transceiver circuit 4 switches from the standby state to the transmission state. As a result, the video and audio signals reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 9 are transmitted to the monitor device 25 side via the antenna 7 and similarly output from the display 23 and the speaker. In this state, when the trigger switch 8 is operated again at the timing t6, the VTR itself remains in the reproduction mode, and the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 returns to the standby state.
[0028]
As described above, in the mode 1, the standby period is very long, which is advantageous in terms of power consumption. In addition, no special key operation is required to enter the standby state, and it can be said that the operability is very good.
[0029]
Next, the operation in mode 2 will be described. In mode 2, the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in the transmission state in mode 1 and the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in the transmission / reception state, and the standby state is in the reception state. In other words, at least during the period in which the VTR 10 is operating, at least the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 can receive transmission data from the monitor device 25 side. This is because when the operation key 24 on the monitor device side instructs the operation of the VTR 10, it is detected and remote operation is enabled.
[0030]
By using this mode 2, the power consumption is slightly higher than in mode 1, but an extremely comfortable operating environment for the user can be obtained. That is, the monitor device 25 can control a VTR with a video camera integrated at a remote position while listening to the sound while viewing the actually captured image, and in particular, can control the camera. It is. In the present embodiment, by preparing two modes in this way, an advantageous mode can be selected according to the use situation, and thus a great effect is also obtained in this respect.
[0031]
Next, another embodiment suitable for the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a system including a video camera 11 and a VTR 16 in another embodiment suitable for the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same constituent elements as those in FIG. Although the monitor device 25 is omitted in FIG. 4, the same device as that in FIG. 1 can be used.
[0032]
In FIG. 4, 14 is an interface (I / F) for exchanging various control signals such as operation signals and mode signals and information signals such as video signals and audio signals between the video camera 11 and the VTR 16. And is controlled by the MPU 5. In the system of the present embodiment, the information signals that can be output from the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 to the monitor device 25 are a video signal obtained from the image sensor 2 and an audio signal obtained from the microphone 13, and a reproduced video on the VTR 16. The signal cannot be transmitted. Further, the operation that can be controlled using the operation key 24 on the monitor device 25 side is only the operation in the video camera 11, and the VTR 16 cannot be controlled.
[0033]
The operation of the system of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In FIG. 5, “a” indicates the operating state of the VTR 16, and the operating state of the VTR 16 is always notified to the MPU 5 via the interface (I / F) 14. The SS transmission / reception circuit 4 in the system of this embodiment also has mode 1 and mode 2 as in the first embodiment described above. Similarly, mode 1 is the power saving mode and mode 2 is the remote operation mode. is there. In FIG. 5, b indicates the state of the SS transceiver circuit 4 in the mode 1, and c indicates the state of the SS transceiver circuit 4 in the mode 1.
[0034]
In the system of the present embodiment, as is apparent from FIG. 5, when the video camera 11 is controlled on the monitor device 25 side, it is necessary to confirm what screen is being shot even in the recording pause state. In consideration of the above, the screen shot by the video camera 11 is transmitted to the monitor device 25 side even in the recording pause mode other than when the VTR 16 is in the recording mode.
[0035]
The operation of the SS transceiver circuit 4 in mode 1 will be briefly described below. As shown in FIG. 5, if the VTR 16 is in a stopped state at the timing τ1, the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 enters the above-described standby state. Next, when a predetermined key in the operation key 6 is operated at the timing τ2, the MPU 5 puts the video camera 11 in the shooting state and puts the VTR 16 in the recording pause state. Thereafter, the VTR 16 starts actual recording by operating the trigger switch 15 at the timing τ3. At this time, the operation itself of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 does not change.
[0036]
During the recording operation, when the VTR 16 is stopped by the operation of the stop key or the like in the operation key 6 at the timing τ4, the MPU 4 also cancels the shooting state of the video camera 11. Further, at timing τ5, the VTR 16 is set in the playback state by operating the playback key in the operation key 6. However, since the video signal and audio signal played back by the VTR 16 cannot be transmitted to the monitor 25 side, the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in the standby state. Leave as it is. Similarly, at τ6, the fast-forward or rewind key in the operation key 6 is operated to set the VTR 16 to the high-speed search mode, or at timing τ7, the pause key in the operation key 6 is operated to set the VTR 16 to the still playback mode. The transmission / reception circuit 4 remains in the standby state.
[0037]
As for the operation in mode 2, as in the previous embodiment, the period during which the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in the transmission state in mode 1 is the transmission / reception state for the SS transmission / reception circuit 4, and the reception state is the period for the standby state. The point to do is different.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a video camera that is excellent in operability and has no wiring complexity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system comprising a video camera integrated VTR and a monitor device as one preferred embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of an SS transceiver in the system of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system comprising a video camera 11, a VTR 16 and a monitor device as another embodiment suitable for the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the system of FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens 2 Image pick-up element 3 Signal processing circuit 4, 20 SS (spread spectrum) transmission / reception circuit 5, 21 Micro processing unit (MPU)
6, 24 Operation keys 7, 27 Antenna 8, 15 Trigger switch 9 Recording / playback unit 10 Video camera integrated VTR
11 Video camera 12 Input / output terminal 13 Microphone 14 Interface (I / F)
23 display 31 bus selector 32 spread modulation circuit 33 despread modulation circuit 34 spread code generation circuit

Claims (8)

A function of recording a video signal on a recording medium output from the image pickup means, and recording and reproducing means having a function of reproducing the video signal from said recording medium,
Operating means for setting the operating state of the recording / reproducing means to a reproducing state;
A switch for setting the operating state of the recording / reproducing means to a recording state,
Said reproducing means is a case where playing a video signal from the recording medium, One or, In no event not transmitting video signals wirelessly transmitting means is reproduced from said recording medium by radio, the when the switch is operated, a video, wherein said without the operation state of the recording and reproducing means to record state, to initiate the transmission of the video signal being reproduced from the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit camera.   The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission unit includes a spread spectrum modulation unit that performs spread spectrum modulation. The switch is also a switch for changing the recording state the operating state of the recording and reproducing means from the recording pause state,
When changing the recording state the operating state of the recording and reproducing means from the recording pause state in response to an operation on the switch, that to start transmission of the video signal recorded on the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit video camera according to claim 1 or 2, feature. The switch is also a switch for changing the recording paused state operating state from the recording state of said recording means,
When changing the recording pause mode operation state from the recording state of said recording means in response to an operation on the switch, halting the transmission of the video signal recorded on the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit video camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized. A function of recording a video signal on a recording medium output from the image pickup means, and recording and reproducing means having a function of reproducing the video signal from said recording medium,
Operating means for setting the operating state of the recording / reproducing means to a reproducing state;
A control method of a video camera having a switch for setting an operation state of the recording / reproducing means to a recording state,
Said reproducing means is a case where playing a video signal from the recording medium, One or, In no event not transmitting video signals wirelessly transmitting means is reproduced from said recording medium by radio, the when the switch is operated, the recording operation state of the reproduction means without the recording state, the control, characterized in that to start the transmission of the video signal being reproduced from the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit Method.   6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the wireless transmission means includes spread spectrum modulation means for performing spread spectrum modulation. The switch is also a switch for changing the recording state the operating state of the recording and reproducing means from the recording pause state,
When changing the recording state the operating state of the recording and reproducing means from the recording pause state in response to an operation on the switch, that to start transmission of the video signal recorded on the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit the method according to claim 5 or 6, feature. The switch is also a switch for changing the recording paused state operating state from the recording state of said recording means,
When changing the recording pause mode operation state from the recording state of said recording means in response to an operation on the switch, halting the transmission of the video signal recorded on the recording medium to the wireless transmit unit the method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized.

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